A lorry driver has been jailed for nine years after pleading guilty to smuggling 40 kilos of heroin into the UK through Dover.

The drugs, which were hidden on the engine block under his cab, had an estimated street value of £1.8 million.

On Friday Canterbury Crown Court heard that Anthony Connolly, 43, of North Sudley Road, Liverpool was stopped by UK Border Agency officers at the inward freight controls at Dover Eastern Docks on September 17, 2008. Connolly was the sole occupant of a lorry carrying a consignment of beer from Holland.

After questioning the Liverpool man, UKBA officers asked him to tilt the cab forward and found the engine block covered in lead flashing. Beneath the lead

were two holdalls containing numerous brown wrapped packages.

The find was tested and the contents proved to be heroin.

Malcolm Bragg, investigation assistant director for HM Revenue & Customs said: “HM Revenue & Customs investigators and UK Border Agency staff are at the forefront of the fight to stop drugs entering the UK and to reduce the associated harm to our communities.

“In partnership with prosecutors from the Revenue & Customs Prosecutions

Office (RCPO) we aim to protect society from this activity wherever we detect it.

“The sentence handed down by the court will act as a deterrent to those involved in drug trafficking and clearly shows that crime doesn’t pay.”

Anyone with information relating to smuggled goods or other illegal activities should contact HMRC’s 24 hour hotline on 0800 59 5000.